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Philadelphia Vs Chicago | Pros & Cons Of Living

Budgeting / By Humbled Budget
Philadelphia Vs Chicago
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Humbled Budget Team

With over 55 years of combine experience in the Finance/Tax Industries based in the United States, Our Team of Humbled Individuals' shares their wisdom gained through experience or technical knowledge acquired through Additional Education.

As you may know already, one of the biggest cities in Pennsylvania is Philadelphia. It’s such a crowded city with more than a million people. Another big city worth mentioning is Chicago, with around 2.7 million people living in it. By seeing this number, is Chicago bigger than Philadelphia? Let’s have a Philadelphia Vs Chicago comparison here.

Well, there are some factors we have to consider first. Yes, Chicago is indeed crowded with nearly a million people in difference. However, that doesn’t mean that Chicago is a better place to live in.

If you’re still in this confusion about picking between Philadelphia and Chicago, below are some good explanations that you may also need to consider. However, before we get into the specifics of life in these two places, you should read our article on the top secret websites for making money online.

Living in Philadelphia

First, let us take a glance at what life looks like in Philadelphia. Many people are wondering whether moving to Philadelphia is a good idea after all. And the answer is yes. However, there are still some other factors we need to think about, especially about where you’re coming from.

Philadelphia is included as one of the pinnacles of tourist attractions in the US for its vibrant and colorful arts, a great diversity of people, and historical places. And talking about history, Philadelphia’s history can be found on every corner of the United States.

Here you can see the greatness of the National Constitution Center, Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and any other places rich with American history ready to be explored.

Another notable factor that’s highly popular in Philadelphia is education. In the city, you can find lots of top choices of universities and colleges which successfully attract students worldwide. Some examples are St Joseph’s University, Temple University, and La Salle University.

Then how about city parks? Well, the city got so many of them. Fairmount Park may offer you incredible natural views of 2,000 acres of land. Feel free to witness the mesmerizing Wissahickon Creek or Schuylkill River while you’re at it.

Aside from the factors related to tourism, let’s go to something deeper. How’s life in Philadelphia? Most people would’ve told that they’re having a good time living in the city. The housing costs are pretty affordable here, compared to the giant cities located nearby.

Although it’s showing signs of rising, the rate is still considered pretty stable.

Living In Chicago

So, is Chicago bigger than Philadelphia? Yes, Chicago is undeniably bigger as it has around 228 square miles of area compared to 135 square miles of Philadelphia. With a population of around 2.6 million, it’s easy to say that Chicago is one of the biggest cities in the US.

Is it a good idea to move to Chicago? As in many other places in America, the answer is yes. It’s a good place to live in.

The economy is thriving, as well as the culture. The growing economy doesn’t simply annihilate the culture. In fact, it enhances it.

Similar to Philadelphia, Chicago is still considered rich in history. In the city, you can visit places like the Art Institute of Chicago or the Museum of Science and Industry. Despite the advancing technology that wraps the place tightly, people still often visit these places as a reminder of life’s beauty.

How about food? Chicago has a great deal of food diversity. Thanks to diversified culture, you can find a colorful list of meals to try. Other than American restaurants, you can try to satisfy your tongue with a variation of tastes from Chinese, Mexican, Vietnamese, or even Indonesian restaurants.

Understanding The Problems

After knowing the good points about the two cities that we have just mentioned above, which one do you think is truly better? Is it Philadelphia or Chicago?

Do remember that they are not perfect, there’s no place on Earth that can be considered perfect. Let us check what the problematic issues in both cities.

Philadelphia

Having diverse people is surely great, as you can gather individuals coming from different places you never knew. But, due to the cultural complexity, problems like increasing criminal rates may start to appear. The same case happens to Philadelphia.

Although not all, some neighborhoods in Philadelphia are pretty dangerous. It has been the city’s issue for years. Will it get better? Hopefully.

If you’re looking at the statistics, the crime rate in Philadelphia is way higher compared to other big cities in the US. Gang violence is among the common issues the area has. Plus, the drug-dealing is also a serious problem in the city.

The crime rate in Philadelphia is extremely high compared to other major cities in the United States.

Chicago

How about the windy city? What’s bad about it?

As there are 2.6 million people living in the same city, be ready to face lots of traffic jams. The traffic can be too much most of the time. It could take at least an hour just to get to the office if you’re unlucky enough to live outside the main areas of Chicago.

With more vehicles, parking becomes harder as the parking space slowly filled over time. Knowing the potential, the prices for parking garages have been pretty expensive as well. With this condition, people end up parking their vehicles right by the roadside. 

As Chicago is a really big city, the living cost can be pretty higher as well. So, the condition would make it pretty challenging for people who just came to the city for the first time looking for fortune.

Conclusion Philadelphia Vs Chicago

As you can see, whether you’re looking in a certain direction, you’ll eventually meet some pros and cons. There’s nothing like a perfect place on Earth. Philadelphia is great. Its history and people are pretty interesting. However, the criminal rate is higher there, and some neighborhoods are just too dangerous to live in.

Meanwhile, Chicago is also a big city. Filled with modernity, high-tech, and advancements. However, as the city grows bigger, you’ll eventually be baffled by the high competition, decreasing green space, and highly polluted environment. We know that it might not seem easy to find a place to stay. But if you do your research, you can eventually come up with an option of a suitable place that’s most fitting for you.

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